Lighting devices and methods of installing light engine housings and/or trim elements in lighting device housings

Abstract

A lighting device, comprising a housing and at least one mounting clip. The housing comprises an electrical connection region engageable in an electrical receptacle. The mounting clip is pivotable from a first position, where an end region of the mounting clip does not extend beyond a periphery of the housing, to a second position, where the end region extends beyond the housing periphery. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a trim element and at least one mounting clip. The mounting clip is pivotable, such that if the mounting clip is in a second position and then the trim element is rotated, the mounting clip will pivot to a third position, where the mounting clip engages the housing such that the trim element is biased toward a ceiling or other structure in which the lighting device is mounted. Also, methods of installing housings and/or trim elements.

1. A lighting device, comprising:
 a light engine housing, said light engine housing comprising an electrical connection region, said electrical connection region engageable in an electrical receptacle; 
 at least a first light emitter within said light engine housing; and 
 at least a first mounting clip, said first mounting clip mounted pivotally about a first pivot axis on a mounting clip surface of said light engine housing, said first mounting clip having a first mounting clip first end region, said first mounting clip first end region spaced from said first pivot axis, 
 said first mounting clip pivotable about said first pivot axis at least from a first mounting clip first position, where said first mounting clip first end region does not extend beyond a periphery of said light engine housing, to a first mounting clip second position, where said first mounting clip first end region extends beyond a periphery of said light engine housing. 
 
     
     
       2. A lighting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lighting device further comprises:
 a second mounting clip, said second mounting clip mounted pivotally about a second pivot axis on said mounting clip surface of said light engine housing, said second mounting clip having a second mounting clip first end region, said second mounting clip first end region spaced from said second pivot axis; and 
 at least a third mounting clip, said third mounting clip mounted pivotally about a third pivot axis on said mounting clip surface of said light engine housing, said third mounting clip having a third mounting clip first end region, said third mounting clip first end region spaced from said third pivot axis. 
 
     
     
       3. A lighting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first mounting clip first end region is sharpened. 
     
     
       4. A lighting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first mounting clip first end region is spaced from said first pivot axis by a distance which is at least three times a minimum dimension of said first mounting clip in a first plane which is perpendicular to said first pivot axis. 
     
     
       5. A lighting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first mounting clip has at least one bent portion between a first mounting clip first portion and a first mounting clip second portion, said first mounting clip first end region located in said first mounting clip second portion, a second plane defined by at least two points on a first surface of said first mounting clip in said bent portion and a point on said first surface of said first mounting clip in said first mounting clip first end region defining an angle of at least 10 degrees relative to a first plane which is perpendicular to said first pivot axis. 
     
     
       6. A lighting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lighting device comprises at least a first stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said first stop element shaped and positioned such that said first stop element prevents said first mounting clip from rotating 360 degrees about said first pivot axis. 
     
     
       7. A lighting device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first stop element protrudes from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface. 
     
     
       8. A lighting device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element shaped and positioned such that said second stop element inhibits said first mounting clip from rotating from between said first stop element and said second stop element past said second stop element to not between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       9. A lighting device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element protruding from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface, said first mounting clip between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       10. A lighting device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a first stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said first stop element shaped and positioned such that said first stop element prevents said first mounting clip from rotating beyond where said first mounting clip first end region is a maximum distance from said light engine housing. 
     
     
       11. A lighting device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first stop element protrudes from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface. 
     
     
       12. A lighting device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element shaped and positioned such that said second stop element inhibits said first mounting clip from rotating from between said first stop element and said second stop element past said second stop element to not between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       13. A lighting device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element protruding from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface, said first mounting clip between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       14. A lighting device, comprising:
 at least a first light engine housing element, said first light engine housing element comprising an electrical connection region, said electrical connection region engageable in an electrical receptacle; 
 at least a first light emitter within said first light engine housing element; and 
 at least a first mounting clip, said first mounting clip mounted pivotally about a first pivot axis on a mounting clip surface of said first light engine housing element, said first mounting clip having a first mounting clip first end region, said first mounting clip first end region spaced from said first pivot axis, 
 said first mounting clip pivotable about said first pivot axis at least from a first mounting clip first position, where said first mounting clip first end region does not extend beyond a periphery of said first light engine housing element, to a first mounting clip second position, where said first mounting clip first end region extends beyond a periphery of said first light engine housing element, such that if said first light engine housing element is placed within a lighting device housing with said first mounting clip in said first mounting clip second position and in contact with an internal surface of said lighting device housing, and then said first light engine housing element is rotated in a first direction about an axis of said first light engine housing element, said first mounting clip will pivot relative to said first pivot axis to a first mounting clip third position, where said first mounting clip engages said lighting device housing. 
 
     
     
       15. A lighting device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said lighting device further comprises a second light engine housing element, 
 said first light engine housing element is an upper housing, 
 said second light engine housing element is a lower housing, and 
 light emitted by the first light emitter that exits the lighting device exits the lighting device from the second light engine housing element. 
 
     
     
       16. A lighting device, comprising:
 a light engine housing, said light engine housing comprising at least a first opening; 
 at least a first light emitter within said light engine housing which, when illuminated, emits light, at least some of which exits said light engine housing through said first opening; and 
 at least a first mounting clip, said first mounting clip mounted pivotally about a first pivot axis on a mounting clip surface of said light engine housing, said mounting claim surface on a side of said light engine housing that is opposite to the first opening, said first mounting clip having a first mounting clip first end region, said first mounting clip first end region spaced from said first pivot axis, 
 said first mounting clip pivotable about said first pivot axis at least from a first mounting clip first position, where said first mounting clip first end region does not extend beyond a periphery of said light engine housing, to a first mounting clip second position, where said first mounting clip first end region extends beyond a periphery of said light engine housing. 
 
     
     
       17. A lighting device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said lighting device further comprises:
 a second mounting clip, said second mounting clip mounted pivotally about a second pivot axis on said mounting clip surface of said light engine housing, said second mounting clip having a second mounting clip first end region, said second mounting clip first end region spaced from said second pivot axis; and 
 at least a third mounting clip, said third mounting clip mounted pivotally about a third pivot axis on said mounting clip surface of said light engine housing, said third mounting clip having a third mounting clip first end region, said third mounting clip first end region spaced from said third pivot axis. 
 
     
     
       18. A lighting device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said first mounting clip first end region is sharpened. 
     
     
       19. A lighting device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said first mounting clip first end region is spaced from said first pivot axis by a distance which is at least three times a minimum dimension of said first mounting clip in a first plane which is perpendicular to said first pivot axis. 
     
     
       20. A lighting device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said first mounting clip has at least one bent portion between a first mounting clip first portion and a first mounting clip second portion, said first mounting clip first end region located in said first mounting clip second portion, a second plane defined by at least two points on a first surface of said first mounting clip in said bent portion and a point on said first surface of said first mounting clip in said first mounting clip first end region defining an angle of at least 10 degrees relative to a first plane which is perpendicular to said first pivot axis. 
     
     
       21. A lighting device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said lighting device comprises at least a first stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said first stop element shaped and positioned such that said first stop element prevents said first mounting clip from rotating 360 degrees about said first pivot axis. 
     
     
       22. A lighting device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said first stop element protrudes from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface. 
     
     
       23. A lighting device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element shaped and positioned such that said second stop element inhibits said first mounting clip from rotating from between said first stop element and said second stop element past said second stop element to not between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       24. A lighting device as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element protruding from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface, said first mounting clip between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       25. A lighting device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a first stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said first stop element shaped and positioned such that said first stop element prevents said first mounting clip from rotating beyond where said first mounting clip first end region is a maximum distance from said light engine housing. 
     
     
       26. A lighting device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said first stop element protrudes from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface. 
     
     
       27. A lighting device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element shaped and positioned such that said second stop element inhibits said first mounting clip from rotating from between said first stop element and said second stop element past said second stop element to not between said first stop element and said second stop element. 
     
     
       28. A lighting device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said lighting device further comprises at least a second stop element mounted on said light engine housing, said second stop element protruding from said mounting clip surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said mounting clip surface, said first mounting clip between said first stop element and said second stop element.